From left to right: Geert van Rooij (curator DAF Museum), Bert Pronk (FEHAC), Roland van Schelven (FEHAC), Marc Hendrikse (chairman of the DAF Museum Foundation), Maurice Klaassens (manager DAF Museum), Jos Theuns (FIVA), and Hans Hoving (FEHAC).
Eindhoven, The Netherlands – December 14, 2025
The DAF Museum in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, has been awarded the prestigious combination award from TICCIH (The International Committee for the Conservation of Industrial Heritage) and FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) during FIVA’s General Assembly in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
The award was presented in the presence of several European members, including board members from FEHAC, the Dutch 'Federatie Historische Automobiel- en Motorfietsclubs', who joined the ceremony via video connection from Luxembourg.
The award, a plaque that will be prominently displayed in the DAF Museum, was symbolically handed over in Brazil and officially presented to a large delegation from the museum during a celebratory meeting on December 14, 2025.
Each year, FIVA members can nominate individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to protecting, preserving, and promoting the cultural heritage of historic vehicles. From the many nominations received, a select few are chosen to receive this prestigious award.
FEHAC's nomination of the DAF Museum highlighted the museum's unique location - the very same site where the company first started in 1928. The museum is housed in a historical building that once served as a brewery, located near the center of Eindhoven. It was here that the owner of the brewery, facing issues with his vehicle's engine, decided to finance the establishment of a mechanical workshop. This workshop quickly evolved into a hub for various machines and equipment, marking the beginning of one of the world's leading truck manufacturers, DAF.
The museum showcases an excellent collection of vehicles, ranging from early trucks to a unique Michilotti-designed passenger car, a one-off design that was ahead of its time.
The DAF Museum's recognition by TICCIH and FIVA underscores its importance in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of historic vehicles, as well as its strong ties to the rich industrial history of Eindhoven and the DAF brand.
Truck and bus lovers will find inspiration in the vast collection of vehicles, while DAF might be known by those who prefer passenger cars for their smart transmission system, the Variomatic, also known under the name of continuously variable transmission (CVT).
In the mid-seventies the DAF passenger car division was bought Volvo which introduced the 300 series that was still, for its majority, designed by the old DAF team.
Why this combined award?
Clearly, FEHAC played its cards right by combining not only the company’s heritage but also its historic building and other facts. This resulted in FIVA seeking the cooperation of the similarly minded TICCIH to not only recognize the vehicle collection but also the beautifully restored historic building.
Furthermore, the DAF museum is managed and staffed by volunteers, many of them ex-employees of DAF, who spend their well-deserved retirement telling visitors about the company and its products.
Furthermore, the DAF Museum also plays an important educational role by regularly inviting schools for workshops on things like car design, engineering, and other aspects of the automobile. Another reason for this recognition by TICCIH and FIVA.
We congratulate the DAF Museum on this award and highly recommend a visit if you are in the south of the Netherlands!